Nominee! 2008 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play

Kenny Barrett did something that has everyone worried. He wishes he could just make it through the rest of his senior year unnoticed, but that's going to be hard since he has to publicly apologize to his entire high school. At home, his mother is struggling with a rocky start to her second marriage and a surprise visit from her estranged sister. A new play about a family limping out the door in the morning and coming home no matter what.

REVIEWS

"Ms. Flahive's casual avoidance of hand wringing and sententiousness brings a breath of fresh air to a subject more often accompanied by torrents of the hot kind. The play has the bouncy humor of a quirky-family sitcom, but in this case the usual adolescent afflictions — acne and awkwardness, mean girls, and cruel jocks — take a back seat to something larger, darker and more mysterious. One of the most insightful aspects of Ms. Flahive's writing is her understanding that even caring adults are struck dumb and left gaping for words in the presence of despair of such proportions. - The New York Times

"Marvelous. A gem of a debut. Ms. Flahive's language is almost always naturalistic, often sounding throwaway, and yet every line contributes to a growing impression of a living, breathing family." - The New York Sun

"Hip and smart! A fresh new voice." – The Daily News

"One of the best and most emotionally satisfying works this season. Superb!" – Theatermania

From Up Here premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in April 2008 directed by Leigh Silverman.

Characters

CASTING

4m, 4f

CASTING NOTES

The role of Officer Stevens should be played by the same actor that plays Mr. Goldberger.

Liz Flahive is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dramatic Writing. Her first play, From Up Here (Manhattan Theater Club in association with Ars Nova) was nominated for both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Play and won the John Gassner Award for Playwriting. Her plays have been produced and developed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Naked Angels, ... view full profile